OMC Outdrive Removal

[followme21]

So this weekend I am going to pull the outdrive on a 92 OMC..Is there and "tricks" that would make the job go easier? I thought I read somewhere someone said put the gear-shift in forward? Also I have new gaskets and will greese up the Gimble, U-joints while I am in there. Is it 100% neccessary to use a allignment tool if I am not doing anything else but removing the OD and putting it right back on. I have a service manual but fiqured it would be wise to ask people that have acctually done the job. What would people fiqure a job like to be be 4-5 hours?

 

[bruceb58]

Re: OMC Outdrive Removal

You have to have the drive in NEUTRAL. You should definitely check the alignment with a tool. It should be checked every year.

 

[hshift]

Re: OMC Outdrive Removal

I have a 93 Sunbird with an OMC Cobra. Last weekend I pulled the drive for the first time in order to grease, inspect, etc. With a stand I had pre-built several weeks ago, it took me ten minutes or so to get the drive off, came off pretty easy. Getting it back on took a little wrestling of the drive and turning of the shaft, but once it was on enough for the six nuts to be threaded, I tightened them slowly and evenly which pulled the drive in all the way. I did not use an alignment bar, figured that if I had problems getting the drive back on I would go get one, and the outdrive on my boat is working fine. All told, this was a two hour job.

I have read horror stories here of people having a lot of difficulty getting them on and off. My boat was taken good care of by the previous owner, so that gave me courage to try it. I can tell you that without the drive stand, getting the drive back on would have been a PITA. With the drive stand, this is a one-man job. I left mine in neutral the whole time, btw.

Good info here:
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=179939&highlight=OMC+drive+removal

 

[hshift]

Re: OMC Outdrive Removal

One more reason I did this myself. I had called a local marina here in the fall, asking about their winterizing service. The guy who answered the phone told me they drain the system, fill with antifreeze, and change your oil and fog the engine. When I asked him if they also could pull my outdrive and do the maintenance on it, he says to me "well, most people don't usually do that". I said OK and ended up doing the winterizing myself and the outdrive maint. myself.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: OMC Outdrive Removal

I did not use an alignment bar, figured that if I had problems getting the drive back on I would go get one, and the outdrive on my boat is working fine.

If the alignment is off, you can still usually get your drive back on. If the alignment is off enough, you will wear out your coupler and it will require an engine removal to repair it.

But...in the end...its your money!

 

[followme21]

Re: OMC Outdrive Removal

Are the allignment tools the same for say this 92 OMC and my 86 Merc?

 

[Bondo]

Re: OMC Outdrive Removal

Are the allignment tools the same for say this 92 OMC and my 86 Merc?

Yes...

 

[zbnutcase]

Re: OMC Outdrive Removal

Yes.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: OMC Outdrive Removal

Yes

 

[hshift]

Re: OMC Outdrive Removal

If the alignment is off, you can still usually get your drive back on. If the alignment is off enough, you will wear out your coupler and it will require an engine removal to repair it.

Wasn't aware of that. Now that I know how I can get my drive on and off, I will be bellying up to the alignment bar and ordering one.

 

[Juniinc]

Re: OMC Outdrive Removal

I just pull mine without a stand,,,lazy.
U should be done less than an hour, if it doesn't look like this,,,